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The Appalachian Mountains form Tennessee's eastern border with North Carolina. The area proudly preserves its distinctive musical forms and agricultural heritage. Fall festivals in the Appalachians look beyond hayrides and the pumpkin patch to celebrate the region's natural beauty and shared traditions.

Fall Naturalists' Rally

Roan Mountain rises along the Tennessee/North Carolina border in the far northeastern tip of the state. The mountain's topography provides a geologic roadmap to the glaciers and natural forces that shaped the region. Hundreds of naturalists, both amateur and professional, celebrate the mountain's natural beauty in the spring and the fall. Friends of Roan Mountain (friendsofroanmtn.org) sponsors the Fall Naturalists' Rally, which is held the weekend following Labor Day and features speakers and history hikes. Educational programs study the region's geology and ecology, local caves and medicinal plants. Presentations focus on the mountain's birds, rare plants and mushrooms and a handicapped-accessible nature walk winds through a wetland and along a stream.

National Storytelling Festival

Storytellers flock to Jonesborough each October for the National Storytelling Festival (storytellingcenter.net/festival). First held in 1973, the festival brings together tale-tellers from across the country. Storytellers entertain general audiences in circus tents set up downtown, and Ghost Story sessions go on into the night. Midnight Cabarets feature music and stories with adult themes. The public is invited to participate at the Swappin' Ground, an area in Storytelling Park where impromptu sessions are open to both professionals and amateurs. Storytelling Studio features live interviews with performers, and the Yarnspinners' Party includes food, music and appearances by featured tellers.

Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival

Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville are the sites for the Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival (smokymountainharvestfestival.com), held from mid-September to the end of October when fall colors are at their brightest. The festival includes several smaller festivals, such as the County Fair (seveiercountyfairgrounds.com) and the Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival (dumplinvalleybluegrass.com) in Sevier County. Gatlinburg is the site of A Taste of Autumn, featuring dishes from local restaurants, and an antique show and sale. The fall Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair (craftsmenfair.com), which typically features 200 crafters and artisans selling and demonstrating their arts. Events in Pigeon Forge include a barbecue and bluegrass festival at Dolly Parton's theme park, Dollywood (dollywood.com), and the Smoky Mountain Trout Tournament (smokymountaintrouttournament.com), the largest trout-fishing competition in the Smoky Mountains.

Foothills Fall Festival

Maryville hosts the Foothills Fall Festival (foothillsfallfestival.com), a three-day celebration in October, with big-name entertainment and a juried arts and crafts show. The festival, first held in 2000, offers a wide variety of free family-friendly entertainment; it depends on sponsorships to provide concerts at reduced prices. A 16-acre kids' Adventureland in a city park keeps children occupied with activities like rock-climbing and entertainment that includes a water-skiing squirrel. The arts show, free music performances and crafts demonstrations are held on downtown streets, and the area in front of the courthouse is reserved for a food court and a performance stage. Theater in the Park has featured concerts by entertainers such as Reba McIntyre, Vince Gill and Alan Jackson.

Museum of Appalachia Fall Homecoming

The Museum of Appalachia (museumofappalachia.org) in Clinton preserves mountain heritage and features a collection of authentic mountain farm buildings, Appalachian artifact exhibits, gardens and farm animals. The annual Fall Homecoming held each October features Appalachian music performed on multiple stages. Almost 400 musicians performed traditional folk, gospel, bluegrass and mountain music over three days in 2010. The celebration includes demonstrations of pioneer skills, Southern food and crafts booths. The day before the official opening of the festival is reserved for children's activities.

About the Author

Meg Jernigan has been writing for more than 30 years. She specializes in travel, cooking and interior decorating. Her offline credits include copy editing full-length books and creating marketing copy for nonprofit organizations. Jernigan attended George Washington University, majoring in speech and drama.

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